Dynamic recursive decoupling method for closed-loop flexible mechanical systems

In this paper, a new method for the dynamic analysis of a closed-loop flexible kinematic mechanical system is presented. The kinematic and force models are developed using absolute reference, joint relative, and elastic coordinates as well as joint reaction forces. This recursive formulation leads to a system of loosely coupled equations of motion. In a closed-loop kinematic chain, cuts are made at selected auxiliary joints in order to form spanning tree structures. Compatibility conditions and reaction force relationships at the auxiliary joints are adjoined to the equations of open-loop mechanical systems in order to form closed-loop dynamic equations. Using the sparse matrix structure of these equations and the fact that the joint reaction forces associated with elastic degrees of freedom do not represent independent variables, a method for decoupling the joint and elastic accelerations is developed. Unlike existing recursive formulations, this method does not require inverse or factorization of large non-linear matrices. It leads to small systems of equations whose dimensions are independent of the number of elastic degrees of freedom. The application of dynamic decoupling method in dynamic analysis of closed-loop deformable multibody systems is also discussed in this paper. The use of the numerical algorithm developed in this investigation is illustrated by a closed-loop flexible four-bar mechanism.     

Control of underactuated mechanical systems with servo-constraints

This paper deals with a class of controlled mechanical systems in which the number of control inputs, equal to the number of desired system outputs, is smaller than the number of degrees of freedom. The related inverse dynamics control problem, i.e., the determination of control input strategy that force the underactuated system to complete the partly specified motion, is a challenging task. In the present formulation, the desired system outputs, expressed in terms of the system states, are treated as servo-constraints on the system, and the problem is viewed from the constrained motion perspective. Mixed orthogonal-tangent realization of the constraints by the available control reactions is stated, and a specialized methodology for solving the “singular” control problem is developed. The governing equations are manipulated to index three differential-algebraic equations, and a simple numerical code for solving the equations is proposed. The feedforward control law obtained as a solution to these equations can then be enhanced by a closed-loop control strategy with feedback of the actual servo-constraint violations to provide stable tracking of the reference motion in the presence of perturbations and modeling uncertainties. An overhead trolley crane executing a load-prescribed motion serves as an illustration. Some results of numerical simulations are reported.     

Forward and inverse dynamics of nonholonomic mechanical systems

This paper deals with the forward and the inverse dynamic problems of mechanical systems subjected to nonholonomic constraints. The intrinsically dual nature of these two problems is identified and utilised to develop a systematic approach to formulate and solve them according to an unified framework. The proposed methodology is based on the fundamental equations of constrained motion which derive from Gauss’s principle of least constraint. The main advantage arising from using the fundamental equations of constrained motion is that they represent an effective method capable to derive the generalised acceleration of a mechanical system, constrained in general by a set of nonholonomic constraints, together with the generalized constraint forces (forward dynamics). When the constraint equations are used to represent the desired behaviour of the mechanical system under study, the generalised constraint forces deriving from the fundamental equations of constrained motion provide the control actions which reproduce the specified motion for the system (inverse dynamics). This approach is systematically extended to underactuated mechanical systems introducing a new method named underactuation equivalence principle. The underactuation equivalence principle is founded on the key idea that the underactuation property of a mechanical system can be mathematically represented using a particular set of nonholonomic constraint equations. Two simple case-studies are reported to exemplify the proposed methodology. In the first case-study the computation of the generalised constraint forces relative to the revolute joint constraints of a physical pendulum is illustrated. In the second case-study the calculation of the control action which solves the swing-up problem for an inverted pendulum is described.     

Hagedorn's theorem in some special cases of rheonomic systems

Hagedorn's theorem on instability [Arch. Rational Mech. Anal. 58 (1976) 1], deduced from Jacobi's form of Hamilton's principle, refers to scleronomic mechanical systems. In this paper we shall prove that Hagedorn's methodology can be generalized to a class of rheonomic mechanical systems with differential equations of motion which allow the existence of Painlevé's integral of energy. The application of this methodology to the case of rheonomic systems which allow, together with Painlevé's integral, cyclic integrals, as well as to the mechanical systems having resultant motion, with prescribed transport motion, and, finally, to the systems having Mayer's rheonomic potential, are also considered. Obtained results are illustrated by an example.     

On the identification of non-linear mechanical systems using orthogonal functions

Real world mechanical systems present non-linear behavior and in many cases simple linearization in modeling the system would not lead to satisfactory results. Coulomb damping and cubic stiffness are typical examples of system parameters currently used in non-linear models of mechanical systems. This paper uses orthogonal functions to represent input and output signals. These functions are easily integrated by using a so-called operational matrix of integration. Consequently, it is possible to transform the non-linear differential equations of motion into algebraic equations. After mathematical manipulation the unknown linear and non-linear parameters are determined. Numerical simulations, involving single and two degree-of-freedom mechanical systems, confirm the efficiency of the above methodology.     

A nonlinear finite-element approach for kineto-static analysis of multibody systems

Methods that treat rigid/flexible multibody systems undergoing large motion as well as deformations are often accompanied with inefficiencies and instabilities in the numerical solution due to the large number of state variables, differences in the magnitudes of the rigid and flexible body coordinates, and the time dependencies of the mass and stiffness matrices. The kineto-static methodology of this paper treats a multibody mechanical system to consist of two collections of bulky (rigid) bodies and relatively flexible ones. A mixed boundary condition nonlinear finite element problem is then formulated at each time step whose known quantities are the displacements of the nodes at the boundary of rigid and flexible bodies and its unknowns are the deformed shape of the entire structure and the loads (forces and moments) at the boundary. Partitioning techniques are used to solve the systems of equations for the unknowns, and the numerical solution of the rigid multibody system governing equations of motion is carried out. The methodology is very much suitable in modelling and predicting the impact responses of multibody system since both nonlinear and large gross motion as well as deformations are encountered. Therefore, it has been adopted for the studies of the dynamic responses of ground vehicle or aircraft occupants in different crash scenarios. The kineto-static methodology is used to determine the large motion of the rigid segments of the occupant such as the limbs and the small deformations of the flexible bodies such as the spinal column. One of the most dangerous modes of injury is the amount of compressive load that the spine experiences. Based on the developed method, a mathematical model of the occupant with a nonlinear finite element model of the lumbar spine is developed for a Hybrid II (Part 572) anthropomorphic test dummy. The lumbar spine model is then incorporated into a gross motion occupant model. The analytical results are correlated with the experimental results from the impact sled test of the dummy/seat/restraint system. With this extended occupant model containing the lumbar spine, the gross motion of occupant segments, including displacements, velocities and accelerations as well as spinal axial loads, bending moments, shear forces, internal forces, nodal forces, and deformation time histories are evaluated. This detailed information helps in assessing the level of spinal injury, determining mechanisms of spinal injury, and designing better occupant safety devices.     

A solar system model with dissipation

A problem of motion for an arbitrary number of planets is discussed with consideration of the forces of gravitational interaction according to the law of universal gravitation. The planets are assumed to be homogeneous viscoelastic spheres. In the process of motion, the planets are deformed and the dissipation of energy takes place due to internal viscous forces. On the basis of the motion separation method, an approximate system of equations is obtained to describe the motion of planet centers of mass and the variation of planet angular momenta with respect to the centers of mass. The equations of motion contain small conservative corrections to the law of universal gravitation and small dissipative forces whose influence causes a decrease of the total mechanical energy. The motion under consideration admits the following first integral: the law of angular momentum conservation for the system with respect to the centers of mass. When the system executes the steady motion corresponding to its rotation with a constant angular velocity as a rigid body, the dissipative forces do not perform work, since the deformed planets have no time-dependent deformations.     

A matrix formulation for the dynamic analysis of planar mechanisms using point coordinates and velocity transformation

This paper presents a matrix formulation for the dynamic analysis of planar mechanisms consisting of interconnected rigid bodies. The formulation initially uses the rectangular Cartesian coordinates of an equivalent constrained system of particles to define the configuration of the mechanical system. This results in a simple and straightforward procedure for generating the equations of motion. The equations of motion are then derived in terms of relative joint coordinates through the use of a velocity transformation matrix. The velocity transformation matrix relates the relative joint velocities to the Cartesian velocities. For the open-loop case, this process automatically eliminates all of the non-working constraint forces and leads to an efficient integration of the equations of motion. For the closed-loop case, suitable joints should be cut and few cut-joints constraint equations should be included for each closed loop. Two examples are used to demonstrate the generality and efficiency of the proposed method.     

有多余坐标完整系统的自由运动

对于完整力学系统,若选取的参数不是完全独立的,则称为有多余坐标的完整系统. 由于完整力学系统的第二类Lagrange 方程中没有约束力,故为研究完整力学系统的约束力,需采用有多余坐标的带乘子的Lagrange方程或第一类Lagrange 方程. 一些动力学问题要求约束力不能为零,而另一些问题要求约束力很小. 如果约束力为零,则称为系统的自由运动问题. 本文提出并研究了有多余坐标完整系统的自由运动问题. 为研究系统的自由运动,首先,由d'Alembert-Lagrange 原理, 利用Lagrange 乘子法建立有多余坐标完整系统的运动微分方程;其次,由多余坐标完整系统的运动方程和约束方程建立乘子满足的代数方程并得到约束力的表达式;最后,由约束系统自由运动的定义,令所有乘子为零,得到系统实现自由运动的条件. 这些条件的个数等于约束方程的个数,它们依赖于系统的动能、广义力和约束方程,给出其中任意两个条件,均可以得到实现自由运动时对另一个条件的限制. 即当给定动能和约束方程,这些条件会给出实现自由运动时广义力之间的关系. 当给定动能和广义力,这些条件会给出实现自由运动时对约束方程的限制. 当给定广义力和约束方程,这些条件会给出实现自由运动时对动能的限制. 文末,举例并说明方法和结果的应用.      

GIBBS-APPELL’S EQUATIONS OF VARIABLE MASS NONLINEAR NONHOLONOMIC MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

In this paper,the Gibbs-Appell’s equations of motion are extended to the most generalvariable mass nonholonomic mechanical systems.Then the Gibbs-Appell’s equations ofmotion in terms of generalized coordinates or quasi-coordinates and an integral variationalprinciple of variable mass nonlinear nonholonomic mechanical systems are obtained.Finally,an example is given.     

Another form of equations of motion for constrained multibody systems

This paper presents a new and simplified set of explicit equations of motion for constrained mechanical systems. The equations are applicable with both holonomic and nonholonomic systems and the constraints may, or may not, be ideal. It is shown that this set of equations is equivalent to governing equations developed earlier by others. The connection of these equations with Kane's equations is discussed. It is shown that the developed equations are directly applicable with controlled systems where the controlling forces and moments may be subject to constraints. Finally, a procedure is presented for determining which control force systems are equivalent. Examples are presented to demonstrate the advantages, features, and range of application of the equations.     

Quaternion Regularization of the Equations of the Perturbed Spatial Restricted Three-Body Problem: I

We develop a quaternion method for regularizing the differential equations of the perturbed spatial restricted three-body problem by using the Kustaanheimo–Stiefel variables, which is methodologically closely related to the quaternion method for regularizing the differential equations of perturbed spatial two-body problem, which was proposed by the author of the present paper.A survey of papers related to the regularization of the differential equations of the two- and threebody problems is given. The original Newtonian equations of perturbed spatial restricted three-body problem are considered, and the problem of their regularization is posed; the energy relations and the differential equations describing the variations in the energies of the system in the perturbed spatial restricted three-body problem are given, as well as the first integrals of the differential equations of the unperturbed spatial restricted circular three-body problem (Jacobi integrals); the equations of perturbed spatial restricted three-body problem written in terms of rotating coordinate systems whose angular motion is described by the rotation quaternions (Euler (Rodrigues–Hamilton) parameters) are considered; and the differential equations for angular momenta in the restricted three-body problem are given.Local regular quaternion differential equations of perturbed spatial restricted three-body problem in the Kustaanheimo–Stiefel variables, i.e., equations regular in a neighborhood of the first and second body of finite mass, are obtained. The equations are systems of nonlinear nonstationary eleventhorder differential equations. These equations employ, as additional dependent variables, the energy characteristics of motion of the body under study (a body of a negligibly small mass) and the time whose derivative with respect to a new independent variable is equal to the distance from the body of negligibly small mass to the first or second body of finite mass.The equations obtained in the paper permit developing regular methods for determining solutions, in analytical or numerical form, of problems difficult for classicalmethods, such as the motion of a body of negligibly small mass in a neighborhood of the other two bodies of finite masses.     

Control structure interaction in the nonlinear analysis of flexible mechanical systems

The effect of the control structure interaction on the feedforward control law as well as the dynamics of flexible mechanical systems is examined in this investigation. An inverse dynamics procedure is developed for the analysis of the dynamic motion of interconnected rigid and flexible bodies. This method is used to examine the effect of the elastic deformation on the driving forces in flexible mechanical systems. The driving forces are expressed in terms of the specified motion trajectories and the deformations of the elastic members. The system equations of motion are formulated using Lagrange's equation. A finite element discretization of the flexible bodies is used to define the deformation degrees of freedom. The algebraic constraint equations that describe the motion trajectories and joint constraints between adjacent bodies are adjoined to the system differential equations of motion using the vector of Lagrange multipliers. A unique displacement field is then identified by imposing an appropriate set of reference conditions. The effect of the nonlinear centrifugal and Coriolis forces that depend on the body displacements and velocities are taken into consideration. A direct numerical integration method coupled with a Newton-Raphson algorithm is used to solve the resulting nonlinear differential and algebraic equations of motion. The formulation obtained for the flexible mechanical system is compared with the rigid body dynamic formulation. The effect of the sampling time, number of vibration modes, the viscous damping, and the selection of the constrained modes are examined. The results presented in this numerical study demonstrate that the use of the driving forees obtained using the rigid body analysis can lead to a significant error when these forces are used as the feedforward control law for the flexible mechanical system. The analysis presented in this investigation differs significantly from previously published work in many ways. It includes the effect of the structural flexibility on the centrifugal and Coriolis forces, it accounts for all inertia nonlinearities resulting from the coupling between the rigid body and elastic displacements, it uses a precise definition of the equipollent systems of forces in flexible body dynamics, it demonstrates the use of general purpose multibody computer codes in the feedforward control of flexible mechanical systems, and it demonstrates numerically the effect of the selected set of constrained modes on the feedforward control law.     

Nonlinear modeling and control of flexible-link manipulators subjected to parametric excitation

This paper presents nonlinear dynamic modeling and control of flexible-link manipulators subjected to parametric excitation. The equations of motion are obtained using the Lagrangian-assumed modes method. Singular perturbation methodology is developed for the nonlinear time varying equations of motion to obtain a reduced-order set of equations. Control strategies, computed torque control and a composite control, based on the singular perturbation formulation developed, are utilized to reduce mechanical vibrations of the flexible-link and enable better tip positioning. Under the composite control technique, the effect of the value of perturbation parameter on the control signal is investigated. Numerical simulations supported by real-time experiments show that the singular-perturbation control methodology developed for the nonlinear time-varying system offers better system response over the computed torque control as the manipulator is commanded to follow a certain trajectory.     

Steady-state analysis of multibody systems with reference to vehicle dynamics

This paper presents a systematic methodology and formulation for determining the steady-state response of multibody systems. The equations of motion for a general multibody system are described in terms of a set of relative joint accelerations. Then, the differential equations of motion are converted to a set of algebraic equations for the steady-state response. These equations are derived based upon a set of conditions that must exist for the steady state. The application of this formulation in determining the steady-state response of a vehicle moving in a circular path is shown. The multibody model of the vehicle for two- or four-wheel steering is presented. The results of the steady-state simulation are compared with those obtained from a transient dynamic analysis.     

Szebehely's problem for nonholonomic systems with a given first integral

I.IntroductionTheinverseproblemofdynamicsisoneoftheimportantsubjectsinmechanics.In1977,Szebehelysetforthaninverseproblemforthedeterminationofthet'orcefunctiontoamaterialpointintheplanefromparametricfamilyoftrajectories,andobtainedalinearfirstorderpartialdifferentialequationfortheforcefunction.Later,Erdil'l,MellsandPirast=l,MellsandBorgherol'l,BoilsandMertnsl4]extendedSzebehely'sproblemtoboththreeandndimensionalholonomicsystem.Recently,theauthorandProfessorMetFengxiangl'1studiedtheSzebehe…     

The equations of motion of a mechanical system in matrix form

This work recommends methods of construction of equations of motion of mechanical systems in matrix form. The use of a matrix form allows one to write an equation of dynamics in compact form, convenient for the investigation of multidimensional mechanical systems with the help of computers. Use is made of different methods of constructing equations of motion, based on the basic laws of dynamics as well as on the principles of D'Alambert-Lagrange, Hamilton-Ostrogradski and Gauss.     

Dynamic Bifurcation of Multibody Systems

In this paper, the process of loss of stability of multibody systems and structures is analyzed. A novel approach is presented and applied to the statically loaded spatial systems for the analysis of a dynamic response of systems imposed on impact, high velocity compulsive motion, or percussive forces. The analysis is based on the solution of the dynamic equations and eigenvalue problem of systems, and of the resultant motion simulation. The flexible systems are discretized using the finite element method. The dynamic equations are derived with respect to the relative coordinates of the finite elements. Large flexible deflections due to a loss of stability are simulated. The initial forms of the possible deformations are defined by the computed eigenvectors solving the eigenvalue problem for the system stiffness matrix. The critical forces and system deflections are then analyzed. Examples of bifurcation of beam and beam structure imposed on compulsive motion, percussive forces, and impact are presented.     

Stability of motion of quasiperiodic systems in critical cases

A method of setting up a matrix-valued Lyapunov function for a system of differential equations with quasiperiodic coefficients is proposed. This function is used to establish asymptotic-stability conditions for some class of mechanical systems described by nonlinear systems of equations. The stability of motion of these systems in critical cases is analyzed     

Modeling the motion of connected bodies

Spatial motion of mechanical systems consisting of jointed rigid bodies is considered. The methods previously developed to solve the dynamic equations of “carrier + loads” systems analytically for the accelerations of individual bodies are used to obtain the equations of motion of systems with complicated branched structure. The following practically important cases are analyzed: (i) a central carrier with peripheral loaded carriers and (ii) a chain and a ring consisting of loaded carriers. Numerical results are given for the stress-strain state of an elastic spacecraft represented as a chain of rigid bodies connected by elastic joints.